Too often we let our plentiful possessions rob us from having an abundant life. Our things cause us more stress than they relieve. The promise of that time-saving kitchen gadget, which is now cluttering limited drawer space, produces more anxiety when we can’t find it when we need it. How often have we gone out to buy a new one only to come home and find the tool hiding in a hard-to-reach corner cabinet? Or worse – right out in the open! What a waste of money and time!
We each have a story behind our clutter. In my twenties, I was obsessed with shoes: platform boots, chunky wedge sneakers, any dress shoe with a 3 inch heel (I’m a shorty, what can I say?). Working at a shoe store with a forty-percent employee discount aided my acquisition of them. I stopped counting once the total surpassed 150 pairs. Having shortage of closet space, I stacked shoe boxes in columns reinforcing the wall and reducing the width of my bedroom by twelve inches.
Footwear was not my only addiction. As a creative soul, I love my hobbies – from playing guitar, to basket weaving, to marbling, to the attempt at being a gourmet keto chef. These interests required an avalanche of supplies. My imaginative spirit saw the potential reuse of what others might consider scraps, so my closets became stuffed. The walls of bookshelves overfilled with bins of all the extra bits, baubles, and paper tubes.
Then my baby girl arrived. Many parents can attest that these precious creatures spawn a plethora of gadgets and gizmos before they are even born. And, of course, everything is a necessity! I swear toys fall out of my daughter’s ears when she sleeps. It doesn’t stop there. The addition of my child introduced us to the unlimited array of activities intended to enrich her little life and secure a top dollar job in the future. Every corner of the house became packed with all the equipment associated with each seasonal interest.
In 2015, spurred on by a life trauma and the need to renovate my home, I started a transformation from a disordered disaster to a disciplined domicile. Removing clutter traps like large pieces of furniture freed up room to move. Giving away unnecessary kitchen gadgets cleared the counter-tops for more enjoyable cooking experiences. As rooms were reassembled, I required myself and my family to deal with mail immediately and clear all horizontal surfaces by the end of the day. At that time, I reduced my belongings by about a third, initiating a peace I had never known.
Arts and crafts supplies still gave me trouble, since most thrift stores don’t resell them, and some were too expensive for me to justify tossing them. I also thought that maybe someday I’d have time to get back into them. However, 2019 came around with several popular shows on minimalism, which changed my whole perspective of what still remained in my house, including my art. While I don’t ever see myself becoming a minimalist, some of the philosophies the people shared resonated with me. Equipped with new techniques and suggestions, I decided to try reducing my stuff once again. This time, one hundred twenty-six bags and boxes exited my home, including the basket weaving supplies. The transformation was freeing. Guests showing up unannounced no longer embarrassed me, and cleaning went from being a dreadful chore to a simple task. I gained more time with my family, friends, and the things I loved.
Purging and organizing often happens in stages and over time. As my life changed, I was ready to let go of more things. Last December, we made the decision to move to Florida. This required yet another downsizing sweep. Once again, car-loads of donations went out the door, and I lost track of how much trash was discarded. Having reduced my possessions previously made moving a less daunting endeavor.
Having an overabundance of things is stressful. Getting control of my possessions was not a skill I was born with. It was one I learned. You can learn it too. If you are ready to take the first baby steps, simplifying your possessions will lead to an abundance of joy and serenity.